year without a deficiency unless important public business is neglected. We have requested an increase of $2,000 over the appropriation for the current year in the item of stationery. This is certainly a very moderate increase in view of the increased business of the department which, as I have stated above, is at least 20 per cent over that of last year. The increase of $1,000 requested for furniture and fixtures is to provide additional file cases and equipment, which is greatly needed, due to increasing business and depreciation of existing stock. Α number of the more important offices are very much in need of floor coverings, as those now in use are worn through, but it is not intended to expend much of this appropriation for same; in fact, a limitation of $500 is carried in the text of the proposed appropriation. The increase of $300 for transportation is due to the necessity for extensive repairs on the Packard car, which was purchased in 1921. The increase of $7,450 in the estimate for miscellaneous items is due to increase in the department's business, as explained above. There was a deficiency last year of over $3,000. The department has refused to supply many things formerly furnished, has standardized its stock and methods, and is doing everything possible to save everything which administrative officials can control. PRESS CLIPPINGS. I think that statement covers everything except, perhaps, you would like to have an explanation of why we are inserting the language, "press clippings.' Mr. SHREVE. First. let us understand about this consolidation here. Is this consolidation also made upon the recommendation of the Bureau of the Budget? Mr. STRONG. Yes, sir. I think that will give us more effective administration of it than we have had in the past, and that it will enable us to avoid deficiency appropriations in small items, as we have had in the past. INCREASED ESTIMATE FOR CONTINGENT EXPENSES. Mr. SHREVE. I notice that there is an increase of several thousand dollars in this item over the appropriation for 1924. For 1924 you have an appropriation of $51,750 for these purposes, and your estimate for 1925 is $58,287. Will you explain how that increase is made up? Mr. STRONG. We will have to use more money for stationery than we have in the past. We will have to use more money for furniture, and by "furniture" I mean principally filing cases. The Bureau of Investigation advises me that they have had a 100 per cent increase in cases filed this year over last year. The filing section of the Department of Justice proper has not had that much of an increase, but they have had a large increase. This year we have spent nothing for floor coverings, although the majority of the floors in the Department of Justice do not have floor coverings. The carpet in Mr. Burns's room, in the Bureau of Investigation, is worn through, and the carpet in the office of Assistant Attorney General Lovett is also worn through. We have spent nothing for floor coverings, because we could not do it under our appropriation. t Mr. TINKHAM. Your total increase is $6,537. Mr. STRONG. Yes, sir. In the item of telephoning and telegraphing; in the past we have had to ask for deficiencies. We have had to ask for one this year. That is a very difficult appropriation to control. In the proper handling of our cases and in the control of the agents of the Bureau of Investigation, we find it necessary to use the long-distance telephone and telegraph quite extensively. Otherwise the Government's business would suffer. For instance, there was one telephone call item of something like $30, and I called that to the attention of one of the Assistant Attorneys General who made the call. She explained that that call resulted in a saving of $200,000 to the Government; that is was absolutely essential, and could not I be avoided. Of course, this expense counts up. Mr. TINKHAM. You do not mean to say that just one conversation amounted to $30, and that that resulted in a saving of $200,000? Mr. STRONG. She seemed to think that if that conversation had I not occurred, there would have been that loss. Mr. SHREVE. Under supplies and materials, you have an increase of about $2,000. Mr. STRONG. Yes, sir. Our condition as to typewriters has been this: The average age of typewriters in the department is five and a half years. We have one typewriter in there 10 years old, but, of course, it can not be used, as the work that it does is very faulty. I understand that up here in the Capitol they replace typewriters in three years, and that is what should occur in the Executive departments. At the end of three years the expenses for repairs are running up to around $15 or $20 per typewriter. Until recently, we were using surplus machines that the War Department had and they are now in a faulty or unsatisfactory condition. I think we are allotted this year $1,500 for typewriters, but we have had to spend $2,500, and we really should spend more, because the conditions now are such that we have to refuse people proper machines when they should have them. Mr. SHREVE. Your increase is really made up of two or three items; supplies and materials, communication service, etc. Mr. STRONG. Yes, sir. The increased business necessitates more clerical work, and that, of course, results in the requirement of more supplies. PRINTING AND BINDING. Mr. SHREVE. For printing and binding for the Department of Justice and the courts of the United States, your estimate is $200,000. as against a current appropriation of $165,000. Mr. STRONG. During the fiscal year 1923 printing and binding was authorized under several different appropriations. (See Budget, 1924, p. 510.) These several appropriations were combined into one appropriation of $165,000, which was available for the fiscal year 1924. All stationery and other materials upon which printing is made must be paid for from this appropriation. Briefs, dockets, printed forms, journals, minute books, letter heads, etc., for the department and the 1 United States courts are included in this appropriation. (See act of January 3, 1923, 42 Stat. 1079, sec. 1.) Here, again, the 20 per cent increase in departmental business will be reflected. The cost of a docket will often be around $5,000. Many briefs will cost in excess of $500. Journals are very expensive. There was expended in the fiscal year 1923, $170,052.36. At the close of December 31, 1923 $120,326.38 had been expended out of the appropriation of $165,000, leaving a balance of $44,673.62. Of the amount expended perhaps $20,000 was due to requisitions held over from the fiscal year 1923. It is estimated that the expenditure for the present fiscal year will be $200,000. It is our opinion that in estimating the amount for the present year the growth of the department, the development of the War Frauds Section, the increased amount of civil and criminal cases tried, as well as other and minor considerations, were overlooked. This is an appropriation which it is very difficult to administer for the reason that the briefs must be printed, and it is impossible to delay or refuse same; furthermore, many printed forms, dockets, etc., must conform to rules of court, which it is very difficult to get the judges to change. The present condition compels the department to refuse to print many forms which, if they could be printed, would save the time of clerks, stenographers, and officials. There are certain necessary publications, such as opinions of the Attorney General and the Report of the Attorney General, the Register of the Department of Justice, instructions to United States attorneys and United States marshals, etc., which could only be discontinued with loss to the efficiency of the department, both at Washington and in the field. The printing of briefs in the field is awarded on contract to the lowest responsible bidder, and it is safeguarded in every manner possible. The printing of forms, journals, minutes, letterheads, etc., is performed by the Government Printing Office. Most of these have been printed over a long period of years and are absolutely necessary. The department is making every effort to standardize, combine, or eliminate these forms wherever possible. I believe it would be an economy to do more printing then is done at present, as we could save clerical hire and promote efficiency thereby; $200,000 is the amount requested for the fiscal year 1924, an increase of $35,000 over the present appropriation. In From the above it may be seen that this amount is necessary. fact, if the present drain continues we will have to continue our present practice of discontinuing the printing and binding of everything except briefs on and after May 1 of each year. This, of course, handicaps the officials of the courts and this department in the performance of their duties. We were compelled to ask for a deficiency of $35,000 this year, because the $165,000 was not adequate. Now, to give an example of the sort of charges that occur under this item, the printing of one brief alone, or the brief in one case, cost $2,550. That is the case of the United States v. Rhodes et al., No. 6576, at St. Louis, and which was appealed to the Court of Appeals. Just that one brief cost $2,550, and does not include copies of a plat that must also be submitted. Under the present appropriation we find that we can not print many things that it would be economical to print. For instance, if we could print informations, rather than compel office employees or the clerks to write them, it would save the time of the clerks. It would really be an economy and result in greater efficiency in the offices of the United States attorneys if we had more funds for printing, but we have been compelled, because of the lack of appropria tion, to turn down matters of that kind. Everything that we use that has printing on it must be paid for out of this appropriation, including briefs and records of all kinds. All of that expense must be paid out of this appropriation. It is an appropriation over which there is very little administrative control except, of course, we do cut down on the annual report of the Attorney General in the interest of economy, and we do use cheap binding wherever possible in order to save expense. These records and briefs must be printed, and we have no choice except to go ahead and authorize their printing. Mr. TINKHAM. Has the increase in the cost of both printing and binding been very great? Mr. STRONG. Not at present, but I understand that under the reclassification act the Government Printing Office will charge us more due to the operations of that act. Of course, if there is an increase in the expense down there, we must pay more for our printing. At one time we had considered having some of that work done at the prisons, but I think there was some opposition in Congress to having it done by prison labor. That is all I have to offer on that item. TRAVELING AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS AND EMERGENCY EXPENSES. Mr. SHREVE. The next item is: For traveling and other miscellaneous and emergency expenses. Mr. HARRIS, will you explain that item? Mr. HARRIS: This appropriation has been provided annually for the past 25 years and is available for the following purposes: 1. For expenses of official travel of the Attorney General, the Solicitor General, Assistant Attorneys General, and the statutory officials (attorneys, etc.) of the department who do not render services in cases and matters under a specific appropriation such as antitrust, defending suits, war frauds, detection and prosecution of crimes, etc.; that is, if one of the above mentioned officials is sent to the field to perform or render some specific service which does not come under a more specific appropriation, his expenses of travel and subsistence are paid from this appropriation. 2. It is also available, as its text indicates, for miscellaneous emergency expenses for which there is no other appropriation and in the words of the comptroller, "to meet conditions which can not otherwise be met." This includes fees of physicians and alienists for making physical and mental examinations of United States convicts and prisoners in State penal institutions, who make application for pardon because of alleged physical or mental conditions; and other small miscellaneous expenses. 3. For advance of funds under the waiver of section 3648, carried in the text, to attorneys, etc., with which to finance their expenses of official travel, who are unable to do so from their personal funds. Paragraph 3648 provides in effect that no payment shall be made in advance for any purpose, and therefore when officials and employees are sent to the field on official business, who are unable to finance their expenses of making the necessary travel in connection therewith, it is customary to advance a small amount, usually running from $50 to $150, with which to pay expenses of travel. They state of $500. Journals are very expensive. There was expended in the fiscal year 1923, $170,052.36. At the close. of December 31, 1923 $120,326.38 had been expended out of the appropriation of $165,000, leaving a balance of $44,673.62. Of the amount expended perhaps $20,000 was due to requisitions held over from the fiscal year 1923. It is estimated that the expenditure for the present fiscal year will be $200,000. It is our opinion that in estimating the amount for the present year the growth of the department, the development of the War Frauds Section, the increased amount of civil and criminal cases tried, as well as other and minor considerations, were overlooked. This is an appropriation which it is very difficult to administer for the reason that the briefs must be printed, and it is impossible to delay or refuse same; furthermore, many printed forms, dockets, etc., must conform to rules of court, which it is very difficult to get the judges to change. The present condition compels the department to refuse to print many forms which, if they could be printed, would save the time of clerks, stenographers, and officials. are certain necessary publications, such as opinions of the Attorney General and the Report of the Attorney General, the Register of the Department of Justice, instructions to United States attorneys and United States marshals, etc., which could only be discontinued with loss to the efficiency of the department, both at Washington and in the field. There The printing of briefs in the field is awarded on contract to the lowest responsible bidder, and it is safeguarded in every manner possible. The printing of forms, journals, minutes, letterheads, etc., is performed by the Government Printing Office. Most of these have been printed over a long period of years and are absolutely necessary. The department is making every effort to standardize, combine, or eliminate these forms wherever possible. I believe it would be an economy to do more printing then is done at present, as we could save clerical hire and promote efficiency thereby; $200,000 is the amount requested for the fiscal year 1924, an increase of $35,000 over the present appropriation. In From the above it may be seen that this amount is necessary. fact, if the present drain continues we will have to continue our present practice of discontinuing the printing and binding of everything except briefs on and after May 1 of each year. This, of course, handicaps the officials of the courts and this department in the performance of their duties. We were compelled to ask for a deficiency of $35,000 this year, because the $165,000 was not adequate. Now, to give an example of the sort of charges that occur under this item, the printing of one brief alone, or the brief in one case, cost $2,550. That is the case of the United States v. Rhodes et al., No. 6576, at St. Louis, and which was appealed to the Court of Appeals. Just that one brief cost $2,550, and does not include copies of a plat that must also be submitted. Under the present appropriation we find that we can not print many things that it would be economical to print. For instance, if we could print informations, rather than compel office employees or the clerks to write them, it would save the time of the clerks. It would really be an economy and result in greater efficiency in the offices of the United States attorneys if we had more funds for printing, but we have been compelled, because of the lack of appropria |